Before you read another word, get out your checkbook and make out a check to the SHS Band  for the Instrument Fund.  The size of the check is up to you, but the number $100 would be a magic number for the cause which is critical this year.

This weekend, September 30, your Sheffield High School band attended its first marching band competition of the 2006-07 school year at West Morgan County High, and, as expected (by me), walked away with the ten most coveted awards, among which were:

The Challenge Cup (3A Classification)

Best In Class Awards

Percussion Group

Dance Line

Color Guard

Band Overall

Superior Ratings

Every category

Question:  Now, why would I pick this as a topic to journalize?  Answer:  You won't easily find this anywhere else.  

Those of us who weren't jocks have always felt a little bit of envy of the athletes whose feats, win or lose, are glorified and made to symbolize the worthiness of the school.  There's a lot of effort put into academics and non-athletic activities like band, chorus, dramatics, science, math, debate and other interscholastic academic bowl competitions by dedicated and hard-working students who are athletes and non-athletes alike.  Yet who among us has ever seen a newspaper article or an evening television news account of the accomplishments of these groups?  In all candor, I expect to see some photos of the SHS Band at the Times-Daily website one day, and maybe an article briefly describing the competition.  However, this sweep of the honors at the West Morgan competition by SHS took place this weekend and is not in the news today (Monday).  Maybe, one day, the emphasis will shift--or, at least be shared. (P.S.:  On October 16, I still can't find mention of this competition on the Times Daily website, nor are there any photos in their Photo Gallery, so my hope that they thought this event was worth publishing as news is fading.)

Enough of my rant!

Those of you who have found my tribute to the current SHS band director, Eric Kirkman, on the website already know about the great things he has accomplished in the four, going on five, years that he has been at Sheffield High.  Those of you who have not, click on that link and discover this extraordinary teacher we have at our alma mater.  Not only has he molded the kids who have gone out for band into consistent award winners in the various competitions for marching bands in Alabama, but he has turned them--many of whom were "at risk" kids--into model students.  Not only that, but he answers his e-mail, which is how I know about the success at West Morgan..  He's a rare approachable busy person.

I'm afraid my appeal to you for $100 checks for the band has been well-hidden on the website.  I believe that all SHS supporters, especially all former members of the band, can pay tribute to the well-learned work ethic lesson that our band directors taught us and to the continuation of this important lesson-teaching by Mr. Kirkman by financial support in this time of great need. 

Ordinarily the money crunch would not be severe for such programs as band, but this year the City of Sheffield has had significant financial woes of its own as the tax base has eroded.  The usual financial support from the City was not forthcoming this year.

The band used all of its discretionary funds to upgrade the drumline equipment which was the critical need at the start of the school year.  Somehow they are acquiring the much needed tubas to replace the three whose air leaks are managed by duct tape.  But they are second hand hand-me-downs from Florence High School and will still cost $4,000.  The xylophones are literally falling apart, and the students who play these instruments are the best Mr. Kirkman has had in his tenure at Sheffield High.  

As if that's not enough, the equipment trailer that is used to transport the bulky equipment is not large enough to accommodate all of it.  If you have a no-longer needed spacious weather tight trailer in good condition that you would be willing to donate, the school, the band, and you (via the tax-deductible contribution) would be winners all around.  The cost of an adequate trailer will be over $1,200.

Make your check payable to "Sheffield High School Band," with a memo:  "Band Instrument Fund."  Send it to:

Sheffield High School

2800 East 19th Avenue

Sheffield, AL  35660